UNESCO World Heritage Site - The Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Canal is a 202 km long waterway that runs from Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario. It connects the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario.

The canal was constructed by Lieutenant Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers between 1826 and 1832.  It was originally built as a military defense mechanism.  This route would provide a secure supply route to the St. Lawrence River during a potential conflict with the United States.  

The canal was built using manual labour.  Workers used hand tools and animal power to dig the canal and construct the 47 locks and 19 dams which were built to overcome the 83 m difference in elevation between Ottawa and Kingston.  The construction of the canal has remained almost perfectly intact since it was opened in 1832.  The Rideau Canal is the oldest canal system in North America still being used today.

Why is it called the Rideau Canal?  Colonel By took his family and some of his officers to Kingston. On May 24, 1832, they boarded a little vessel called the Rideau and followed the canal through Smiths Falls and on the 29th (5 days later) they entered the locks at Bytown - the last set of locks before reaching the Ottawa River. 

Today, the Rideau Canal is a popular tourist attraction and recreational area.  In the winter the canal transforms into the world’s longest outdoor skating rink.  Due to a lack of ice, the Rideau Canal Skateway did not open this winter.  When open, the Stateway is free and accessible 24/7.  I had the opportunity to go skating on the Rideau Canal one winter on a visit to see my sister in Ottawa.  We had lots of fun and enjoyed the sugar coated snack of a BeaverTail.  

The land alongside the canal is mostly flat with gardens and parks. The multi-use pathways that run along both sides of the Rideau Canal are popular for cycling, running and walking in the summer and even for snow activities in the winter. One can rent a canoe or kayak for the day and paddle along the Canal or enjoy boating, fishing, hiking and biking on and around the canal.

Many of Ottawa’s top tourist attractions are located near the Rideau Canal.  The Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Parliament Hill and the Bytown Museum overlook the set of 8 locks connecting the canal to the Ottawa River. 

The Rideau Canal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 in recognition of its universal value as an example of a canal built during the 19th century. UNESCO says: “it is the best-preserved example of a slackwater canal in North America, demonstrating the use of European technology on a large scale.”

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